Reports have suggested Stubbs is a target for the English Championship outfit following the dismissal of Steve Clarke last Friday, the former West Brom manager being relieved of his duties less than 24 hours after the club’s 1-0 defeat at home to QPR. Stubbs has led the Easter Road side to sit three points behind leaders Rangers in the Ladbrokes Championship, having embarked on a 15-match unbeaten run in all competitions since a 1-0 defeat by the Ibrox side in August.

Speaking as he collected the Ladbrokes Championship Manager of the Month award for the second consecutive month, the former Celtic and Everton defender insisted his focus is solely on reaching the goals he has set out at Hibs. “It is what it is,” Stubbs said when asked about being linked with the Reading job. “It’s the same speculation that’s surrounding my players. I can’t comment on it because I don’t know anything about it. It literally is, as far as I’m concerned, speculation. I haven’t heard anything and I’d be the first to tell you. I’m not one to sit on the fence. It doesn’t really bother me, if I’m honest. If you’re not doing well, then you’re not going to get linked with jobs. If you’re doing well, then you’re probably more likely to be linked with other jobs and that’s all it is. They go hand in hand.

“I haven’t achieved anything here yet, I came in my first season and we managed to stabilise is how I would describe it. We finished second in the league and, if I’m being honest, that was good progress. We’re looking to improve on that this season and we know it’s going to be a big ask but it is a challenge we’re all up for. We want to go up as champions or through the play-offs. It’s stating the obvious which one we would like but the main priority is we achieve one or the other.”

Reading is the latest in a string of manager’s posts Stubbs has been linked with in recent months, gaining mentions over vacancies at the likes of Rotherham and QPR.

“I’m not going to lie, I want to manage at the top level,” Stubbs said. “I want to manage as high as possible but this is a brilliant job and I’m only just into it. In management and coaching terms, it’s all still relatively new but my main focus is with Hibs and the game against Falkirk on Saturday.”

On receiving back-to-back managerial awards for October and November, the Hibs head coach added: “It’s an award that you look upon as a reward for everybody behind the scenes. I don’t need an award to tell me how well the team’s doing. But it’s obviously nice to be recognised and I think if you can win a few of them then you’re not going to be too far away.”with jobs. If you’re doing well, then you’re probably more likely to be linked with other jobs and that’s all it is. They go hand in hand.

“I haven’t achieved anything here yet, I came in my first season and we managed to stabilise is how I would describe it. We finished second in the league and, if I’m being honest, that was good progress. We’re looking to improve on that this season and we know it’s going to be a big ask but it is a challenge we’re all up for. We want to go up as champions or through the play-offs. It’s stating the obvious which one we would like but the main priority is we achieve one or the other.”

Reading is the latest in a string of manager’s posts Stubbs has been linked with in recent months, gaining mentions over vacancies at the likes of Rotherham and QPR.

“I’m not going to lie, I want to manage at the top level,” Stubbs said. “I want to manage as high as possible but this is a brilliant job and I’m only just into it. In management and coaching terms, it’s all still relatively new but my main focus is with Hibs and the game against Falkirk on Saturday.”

On receiving back-to-back managerial awards for October and November, the Hibs head coach added: “It’s an award that you look upon as a reward for everybody behind the scenes. I don’t need an award to tell me how well the team’s doing. But it’s obviously nice to be recognised and I think if you can win a few of them then you’re not going to be too far away.”